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ZSheets-Sheet 2. W10. SWINNERTON & E. B. SAUNDERS.

{Windmilly No. 23 6,277. Patented Jan. 4,1881.

A o 01 I- JMQ N-FEFERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHEH. WASHQNGTON D C UNITE STATESPATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM O. SWINNERTON AND EGBERT B. SAUNDERS, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA;SAID SAUNDERS ASSIGNOR TO SAID. SWINNERTON.

WINDMILLI SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,277,dated January 4, 1881.

Application filed January 19, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, WILLIAM 0. SWIN- NERTONand EGBERT B. SAUNDERS, of San Jos, county of Santa Clara, and State ofCalifornia, have invented an Improved Windmill; and we hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

Our invention relates to certain improve ments in windmills; and itconsists in certain details of construction and combinations of devices,as hereinafter fully described, specifically claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in whichFigure l is a perspective view of our mill. Fig. 2 is a side sectionalview. Fig. 3 is atop or plan view.

A A are the posts forming the base and support of our mill, only theupper parts of which are shown in the present case. These posts arecaused to meet at the top, being cut away so as to inclose a pipe ortube, B, of considerable size, which surrounds the pitman orconnecting-rod (J, and also serves as a pivotal post, about which theupper part of the mill is allowed to turn. We prefer to make this tubeof large four-inch gaspipe, and it extends downward, so as to have itslower end rest upon and be steadied by cross-braces or a platform, whichis supported between the timbers A at a suitable distance below the top.The timbers A are secured together, preferably, by long bolts which passthrough the timbers and are secured by nuts.

The frame D, which serves as a support for the wheel and rudder, isstrongly fastened together, and the lower cross-timber is pierced so asto allow it to slip down over the tube B, around which it turns loosely.Beneath the upper cross-timber of the frame is a plate of metal, E,which rests upon the top of the pipe and serves as a bearing upon whichthe whole weight of the mill is supported, and upon which it rotates,the bearing being thus reduced to so small a surface that the mill turnswith but little friction, and will thus be aftion of smaller pipe, whichmay be screwed in the outer one and project up through the plate andtimber to serve as a guide. The pipe also admits the passage of the pumpor connecting rod G.

The wheel is formed of radial arms F, secured between central flanges,G, and suitably braced and united for strength. The number of arms maybevaried, but we have found that about twenty will give amaximum of powerwithout breaking up the current of air too much.

The vanes Hof our wheel are formed by the union oftwo boards, which maybe of equal or unequal width, and which meet, either at the central lineof the vane or at one side, if preferred, at an obtuse angle, as shownin Fig. 2. Obtuse triangular blocks are secured between the angularsides to strengthen each vane. These vanes are secured to the arms ofthe Wheel so as to stand at an oblique angle with the plane of its face,and it will be seen that the current of air will strike the firstportion of the vane at a greater angle than that of the second portion,so that as it is deflected from the first it acts upon the decreasedangle of the second portion. Experience proves that this form of vanegives better results than a vane having the same angle of obliquitythroughout its entire width.

The wheel is mounted upon a crank-shaft, I, which is supported in boxessecured to one side of the frame D, and secured in the present case at apoint midway between the top and bottom. A vertical connecting-rod, J,extends from the crank to the horizontal vibrating bar K, and is unitedto it by a pin. Holes are made along this vibrating bar to receive thepin and allow the rod J to connect with the bar K at different points,so as to vary the length of stroke. The opposite end of the vi-' bratingbar has a cross or T head, the ends of which form journals on which itturns, and as these are considerably separated the vibrating arm K issteadied and side motion is prevented. The pump connecting-rod G, whichpasses down through the tube B, is attach ed to the vibrating bar K,which crosses above the tube.

The tail or rudder L is made, preferably, of

greater depth vertically than its length, the proportions being about asseven to four. Bars M are bolted to it to strengthen it. The pivotalpost N of the rudder is secured to the inner ends of the horizontalstrengtheningbars M, and stands at an angle, as shown, its foot beingnearer to the frame D than its upper end. By this construction it willbe seen that when the rudder is turned out of a plane at right angleswith the wheel it will also be raised upward around its oblique axis, sothat when released from the power which turned it it will fall back toits normal position by gravitation.

As the wheel-shaft is supported in a line outside of the vertical axisof the mill, it will be seen that the pressure of the wind upon thewheel will have a tendency to turn the mill upon its support; but theaction ofthe wind u pon the rudder will also hold the wheel in the winduntil it becomes strong, when the rudder will turn and the wheel willapproach it until the wheel is caused to stand edge to the wind, andthus its revolution be stopped.

As the rudder will turn obliquely upward it will be seen that when theforce of the wind decreases the rudder will fall back toward its normalposition. This position is not quite at right angles with the face ofthe'wheel, because the wheel is placed, as before stated. at one side ofthe vertical axis of the mill. \Ve therefore place the pivotal post N ofthe rudder at an oblique angle with a vertical plane taken through theaxis of the mill, so that the rudder will in quiet weather always standa little out of a direct line, as shown in Fig. 3. 'hen the wind blowsgently it will bring the rudder into a direct line, and the strongergales will cause the rudder to turn out of a direct line to the oppositeside, as before described.

A bar, 0, is secured across the frame I), and this limits the movementof the rudder and prevents its striking the wheel in its extrememovements.

A short arm or block, P, is secured to the side of the rudder, and a.cord, Q, leads from it, down through the pipe D, to apoint within reachof the operator, so that the rudder may be turned and the wheel thrownout of the wind whenever desired.

A weight, R, is fitted to one of the timbers M upon the rudder, and bymoving it toward or away from the post N the power needed to swing therudder will be increased or diminished.

Having thus described our invention, What we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. The improvement in windmills consisting of the tube B, extendingupward between and supported by the converging frame-posts A, incombination with the frame D, the lower bar of which surrounds the tube,while the upper bar is provided with a bearing-plate which rests uponand is steadied by the tube, substantially as herein described.

2. The wheel-vanes H, each composed of two planes meeting at or near acentral line at an obtuse angle, and provided with the triangularsupportirig-blocks, to which they are secured, as shown, said vanesbeing secured to the arms F, so that the wind will strike the firstportion of the vane at a greater angle than the second, substantially asherein described.

3. The bar K, extending horizontally above the tube B to receive thepump-rod attachment, and having its outer or moving end slotted orperforated to receive the connecting-rod J and adjust the length of thestroke, while its opposite end has a transverse bar or shaft, the endsof which form journals, about which the bar oscillates, and which steadyit and prevent side movement, substantially as herein described.

4. A windmill having the wheel-shat'tjournaled at one side of thevertical axis, and having the tail hinged or pivoted in a line inclinedto the perpendicular, said rudder having an adjustable weight It,substantially as and for the purpose herein described.

5. A windmill having its wheel-shaft journaled within the frame D, whichturns upon a vertical axis, in combination with the rudder or tail L. sohingedas to be returned to a position nearly in line with or parallel tothe wheel-shaft, and the stop or bar 0, substantially as hereindescribed.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 22d day ofDecember, A. D. 1879.

\VILLIAM O. SVVINNERTON. EGBERT B. SAUNDERS.

\Vitnesses Gno. G. KNAPP, J. L. KNAPP.

